The paint endangers the snake by making it more visible both to predators and prey, and it endangers people by making the snake more aggressive, specifically because the paint was over the snake’s eyes making it more likely to lash out at any possible threat.

It’s also against the law to harm a wild snake in Utah…Class B misdemeanor, to be exact.

If you have a rattlesnake in a place where you feel endangered, Dix said the best thing to do is to keep an eye on it and call your local Reptile Rescue or animal control.